Saratoga Springs’ top cop to retire

Police Chief Christopher Cole announced Wednesday that he would retire after four tumultuous years in the job.

In a surprise development, the 23-year veteran of the Saratoga Springs Police Department released a statement saying he would leave the force near the end of May.

“Although my retirement closes the door on this chapter of my career, other doors are opening,” Cole said. “I have decided that I would like to pursue those other new opportunities while I am still young and energetic.”

In 2011, Cole was put on administrative leave for several weeks after acknowledging he had sent sexually explicit texts, including pictures of himself, to a woman he dated. Cole admitted sending the pictures from his office in City Hall after the woman showed the communications to a reporter.

Late last year, Cole was forced to issue an apology to city residents for not alerting the public to a reported rape in the city. That led to changes in how the department released information. Officers now email the department’s daily blotter and list of arrests to the media.